Online Poker in New York - Best NY Online Poker Sites 2025
Real money New York online poker is a diverting form of entertainment that many of the state's residents eagerly participate in. You might be under the impression that it's against the law to play the poker games you love over the internet, but this is not true. Online poker in New York carries no penalties or risks of legal persecution for individual players. It never has, and it likely never will.
Still, there's not yet any mechanism for NY online poker licensure or regulation. This means that you must head to offshore online poker sites if you wish to participate in this hobby. Fortunately, there are a number of internet poker rooms – like SB Poker – that happily welcome New Yorkers through their virtual doors.
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2. Online Poker Legal? 3. Best NY Poker Sites 4. How to Play Online Poker
5.1. Game Selection 5.2. Cashier Methods 5.3. Bonuses & Promos 5.4. Rakeback
6.1. SB Poker6.2. BetOnline6.3. ACR Poker 6.4. CoinPoker 6.5. BlackChip Poker 6.6. SwCPoker 6.7. Nitrobetting
7.1. B&M Poker 7.2. Gambling History 7.3. Famous Poker Players 7.4. Alternatives to NY Online Poker
Top Online Poker Sites in New York
If you want to play online poker in NY without delay, then simply choose a well-regarded site from the list below. They're all reputable and honest providers of New York online poker!
Is Online Poker Legal in New York
New York has had a very long and tenuous relationship with online poker. The online poker landscape was changed forever when in 2011, the district attorney of Southern New York, Preet Bharara, brought charges against PokerStars, Full Tilt, Absolute Poker, and Ultimate Bet in what is now known as “Black Friday.”
These legal actions have caused some sites to not want to offer games to those in New York, like Bovada and Ignition, which abandoned NY in 2021.
But fear not, for some offshore gambling enterprises have decided that the situation is still good enough to operate within (and the World Trade Organization's ruling in Antigua and Barbuda vs United States of America backs that up).
The situation for players is much clearer. The laws pertaining to wagering activities in the State of New York are contained in Article 225 of the Penal Code. After looking over this chapter thoroughly, we conclude that there's no law penalizing individuals who participate in online poker games. You have nothing whatsoever to fear from the law in this matter.
Best New York Online Poker Sites
Below is detailed information on the poker sites that still offer online games to those in New York. You'll be able to successfully play cards from the comfort of your own home despite the fact that your options are a bit more limited than in some other states.
- SB Poker - Fully featured mobile poker software.
- BetOnline - Bad beat jackpots, leaderboards, and other promotions.
- ACR Poker - Largest tournaments for New Yorkers.
- Coin Poker - Biggest crypto cardroom.
- BlackChip Poker - ACR sister site on Winning Poker Network.
- SwCPoker - Spreads many niche poker variants, like Stud and HORSE.
- Nitrobetting - Play with bitcoins.
- True Poker - Another secondary room on Winning Poker Network.
How to Play Online Poker in New York – Detailed Instructions
It's easy to sign up and begin playing poker online. We've included instructions below for registering at our #1 recommended online poker NY site, SB Poker, but the basic idea remains the same no matter which room you elect to play at.
- Click on any of our links to SB Poker.
- The registration form will automatically appear in your browser. Enter in your personal information. Be sure to type in true and accurate info because when it's time to make your first withdrawal, you'll have to complete the account verification process, and any discrepancies could lead to your account being terminated.
- When you've completed the signup form, click the “Create Account”
- Once your account is ready, you can go to the cashier and make your initial deposit via whatever method you deem most convenient (we highly recommend Bitcoin)
How We Evaluate New York Online Poker Sites – Choosing the Best Internet Poker Room
The sites where you can play online poker in New York each have their own strengths and weaknesses. We've examined them all according to a set of criteria to determine which ones to recommend to our readers.
Game Formats and Traffic
Some poker sites stick to the basics, like No Limit Hold'em and PLO, but others offer numerous other poker variants, like 5 Card Omaha, HORSE, and Stud. Furthermore, the blind levels spread at each site are different.
Some rooms host fast-fold poker, randomized lottery-style sit n' gos, satellite tournaments, and other specialized formats. Others tend to eschew these innovations.
Deposits and Withdrawal Methods
Sites for online poker in New York all permit you to deposit and withdraw via legacy payment methods, like credit cards and money orders. However, we believe that Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies represent the best option for both deposits and payouts.
Bitcoin enables fast transaction speeds along with low fees and freedom from cumbersome governmental and banking restrictions. If you're unfamiliar with how crypto works, then you can learn how to use it with this detailed walkthrough on getting started with Bitcoin.
Bonuses + Promotions
Many internet poker rooms provide a first deposit bonus to new players. In addition, there tend to be ongoing promotions to cater to existing users.
These recurring promos may include reload bonuses, rake races, leaderboards, and freerolls. Some of them are seasonal and change often whereas others are basically permanent.
Online Poker Rakeback
Rakeback is an online poker promotion of such value that we have decided to incorporate it into the name of our site: ProfessionalRakeback. It refers to a long-term percentage reimbursement of the rake you pay at the tables.
If the idea of obtaining rakeback on your play appeals to you, then sign up for one of the rakeback poker sites below:
- ACR Poker – 27% rakeback paid on demand
- CoinPoker – 33% rakeback paid every Monday (must hold CHP token balance)
- SwCPoker – up to 50% rakeback (volume dependent)
- BlackChip Poker – 27% rakeback paid on demand
- True Poker – 27% rakeback paid on demand
Reviews of Online Poker Sites for New York
While some operators have elected to exit the New York market, others feel that the population of potential players in the state is too large to ignore. We've checked out all these companies to verify that they're honest, reliable, and competent when it comes to their poker games and software products. Simply read the reviews below, and when you see a site that looks like it might be right for you, click to sign up for it and begin playing today.
SB Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Person to Person, Money Orders, Bank Wire, Cashiers Check, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Binance, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Ripple, Shiba Inu, Solana, Stellar, Tether, Tron, USD Coin
Pros
- Comprehensive gambling platform with poker room, casino, sportsbook, racebook
- Fast crypto payouts
Cons
- High rake
Review
SB Poker hosts a comprehensive gambling platform, including a poker room, casino, live dealer casino, sportsbook, and racebook. Thus, you can conduct all your real money gaming using a single account and wallet.
Poker-wise, there are NLHE, PLO, PLO/8, 5 Card PLO, and 6 Card PLO cash games, along with Boost fast-fold poker, standard SNGs, lottery-style Windfalls, and a full range of multi-table tournaments. The rake here is a bit high compared to competitors, but you can compete in recurring leaderboards and contests for some extra cash to offset this drawback.
SB.ag poker installs to your Windows or Mac computer, and you can play from Android and iOS smart devices too. The poker welcome bonus is a 100% up to $1,000 match, and there are other deals offered for the sportsbook and casino sections.
BetOnline
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Person to Person, Money Orders, Bank Wire, Cashiers Check, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Binance, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Ripple, Shiba Inu, Solana, Stellar, Tether, Tron, USD Coin
Pros
- Great mobile poker software
- Many crypto-currencies available in cashier
Cons
- No stakes below $0.05/$0.10
Review
BetOnline belongs to the same network as SB Poker, and so the tables and tournaments are virtually identical. Also the same is the amazing cross-platform compatibility engendered by the flexible poker software, which is available in download form for Windows and Mac, apps for Android and iOS, and a web client that works in pretty much any browser available today.
Unlike some competitors, BOL offers the full complement of gaming options on mobile as it does for desktop. However, fans of nano-stakes poker may be disappointed because there are no games listed at $0.01/$0.02 or $0.02/$0.05.
BetOnline welcomes all new poker players with a 100% up to $1,000 deposit bonus. You can get more free money for the other betting products too.
ACR Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Money Transfer
Pros
- Excellent tournaments
- $10 free no deposit required (bonus code PRB10FREE)
- Broad array of cash game formats
Cons
- Lengthy late registration leads to excessive MTT run times
Review
ACR hosts the largest poker tourneys that New Yorkers can play online. The weekly Sunday Major is the Sunday Moneymaker with a $109 buyin and $300,000 guaranteed. Moreover, there are frequent opportunities throughout the year to compete in contests with more than $1 million up for grabs.
Cash games consist of NLHE, PLO, PLO/8, LO8, and 7 Card Stud. Single table tournaments abound, including lottery-style Jackpots and frequent step SNGs to larger events.
ACR Poker has download software for Windows and Mac OS while mobile apps cater to users of iOS and Android. Our exclusive ACR no deposit bonus code PRB10FREE grants you $10 free. Then when you deposit, you'll get 100% up to $2,000 in bonus funds.
Coin Poker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, CHP, Polygon, BNB
Pros
- Crypto room with highest traffic
- Weekly rakeback of 33% available
Cons
- No standard sit-n-gos
Review
Coin Poker certainly has a lot going on. Between its tables denominated in crypto USDT, a custom CHP currency, decentralized shuffling, and provably fair elements, there's quite a bit of newfangled tech interoperating here.
The gaming roster includes tournaments, cash games in NLHE, PLO, and 5 Card PLO form, and Cosmic Spin lottery-style games. However, normal SNGs are absent. On the plus side, there are leaderboards for cash, tourneys, and Cosmic Spins that let you pick up some extra cash while playing the games you enjoy.
CoinPoker has download software for PCs and Macs. In addition, there are mobile apps for Android and iOS. The welcome bonus is a 150% up to $2,000 deal. Another reason to play here is that players can get 33% rakeback every week as long as they hold a balance in the CHP crypto coin.
BlackChip Poker
Deposit Methods
Credit Cards, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Money Transfer
Pros
- Great traffic levels
- Weekly leaderboards for SNG and cash games
- 27% Rakeback
Cons
- No play money games
Review
BlackChip Poker is a site on the same Winning Poker Network as ACR, so nearly all the tournaments and cash games are the same. So are most of the promotions, like The Beast leaderboard for cash games and the similar Sit & Crush for SNGs.
You can run the standard BCP download on a PC or Mac, and there are mobile clients for iOS and Android. When you deposit, you'll get 100% up to $2,000 in bonus funds. Furthermore, when you sign up through our links, you'll receive 27% rakeback for the lifetime of your account.
SwCPoker
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin
Pros
- Many poker variants offered
- Krill rewards program provides up to 50% rakeback
Cons
- No poker bonus
Review
At SwC, you'll be able to partake in such delights as OFC, Razz, 2-7 Triple Draw, Badugi, 11-Game Mix, and more. Of course, there are the usual NL Hold'em and PL Omaha tables as well. Traffic is pretty light, but the atmosphere is welcoming and cozy.
Nitrobetting
Deposit Methods
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, BNB
Pros
- Excellent cross-platform compatibility
- Up to 35% rakeback
Cons
- Low player counts
- Weak SNG and tournament offerings
Review
Nitrobetting Poker is perfect if you seek a site that runs in your web browser without anything to download. Cash games are restricted to NLHE and PLO. There are tourneys too and sit n' gos although there are only a few varieties of each.
Facts About New York's Poker Industry
Below you'll find general information about the New York poker scene. This includes details on live poker in the state, the history of NY gambling, and famous New York poker players.
Live Poker
New York has a robust brick-and-mortar gambling environment, which includes tribal casinos, commercial casinos, and racinos. These three types of establishments are all allowed to deal real money poker. In addition, there are cardrooms close to the New York metropolitan area in Philadelphia and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Within the borders of The Empire State itself, there are five poker rooms. The largest of them is at Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York, which boasts 32 tables. Cash games in No Limit Texas Hold'em, Limit Hold'em, Pot Limit Omaha, and Limit Omaha/8 await you, and dealers stand prepared to spread other forms of poker upon request. There are generally a several low-buyin tourneys per week along with special events, like the Empire State Hold'em Championships and the World Series of Poker Circuit.
History of Gambling in New York
In 1993, tribal gaming came to New York with the creation of Turning Stone Casino in the Oneida Nation. In 2013, commercial casinos were authorized in the state for the first time, and three of them opened their doors a few years later.
The latest gambling craze to hit the Empire State was sports betting, which appeared around the middle of 2019. This was made possible by the Supreme Court ruling in Murphy v. NCAA, which found that the federal prohibition against betting on sports was unconstitutional. As it turns out, NYS laws had nothing against properly licensed sportsbooks, so after a short delay while the Gaming Commission drafted the needed rules for the activity, the first sportsbooks opened for business. Legalized online sports betting required a bill to be passed in the legislature, but it debuted in January 2022.
Famous Poker Players From New York
With a history of poker clubs going back more than a century and a population that exceeds that of almost every other state, it's no wonder that New York has spawned more than its fair share of famous card sharks.
Perhaps the most remarkable of these Gotham hustlers was the unusual Stu “The Kid” Ungar. He first became an expert at gin rummy and got so good at the game that nobody wished to play against him, prompting him to transition over to No Limit Texas Hold'em.
Ungar won five WSOP bracelets, including an incredible three Main Event victories in 1980, 1981, and 1997. Unfortunately, Stu Ungar's personal habits marred his poker career. He was unable to resist losing his poker winnings betting on sports, and he struggled with cocaine addiction. In 1998, Ungar was found dead in a Las Vegas motel with only $800 on him and no other assets to speak of.
Another New Yorker who made a mark on the game is Brooklynite Vanessa Selbst. While attending Yale as a Fulbright scholar, she picked up poker. First playing in private games with her classmates, she soon graduated to cash games in Foxwoods before heading out to Vegas.
In total, Selbst's live tournament winnings exceed $11 million. Because of her phenomenal success in multiple variants of poker, many consider her the best female player of all time.
Alternatives to Registering Your Poker Account in New York
People who are lucky enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it a business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, etc, may have other online poker options available to play. Here is a list of the states that border New York and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: Pennsylvania, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Ohio, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Maryland, and Delaware.
Many New Yorkers are jet-setters and travel all over the country and the world. Thus, it would not surprise us if you, as a New Yorker, happen to have a secondary residence outside of the handful of states we just mentioned. But fear not, we have more information for you to gobble up. Take a look at our Online Poker Guide for USA players, which has data regarding real money play in all 50 states. From there, you can easily find a poker site to play at, or zoom in and check out the options in any other state of the union.
Unfortunately, many players across our country don't realize that they have options to play poker online. If you've found this information helpful, please take a moment to share it with your friends and family and thus help to grow the game that we all love so much.
Summary of Online Poker in New York
There aren't as many alternatives for online poker in New York as there are in some other parts of the country, but you can still play cards over the internet as much as you wish. There are no laws against playing privately for your own recreation and profit. Choose a good real money New York online poker site, and shuffle up and deal!
Responsible Gaming
Poker is a wonderful form of entertainment, but if you find it consuming a large portion of your time, money, or attention, then you might need to step away from it either temporarily or permanently. If you think you need help in this area, then consider availing yourself of the following resources:
- Gamblers Anonymous
- National Problem Gambling Helpline
- New York Council on Problem Gambling
- New York State Office of Addiction Services and Supports
Frequently Asked Questions
New Yorkers sometimes have questions about the prospect of playing online poker in the state. Look below for a compilation of some of the most common questions and their answers.
No, there are no NY-licensed internet poker operations despite the fact that the state seems to be a natural fit for it because of its socially liberal values, large population, existing casino culture, and relatively high level of income. Indeed, there have been yearly legislative pushes toward legalization.
However, none of these bills have passed into law. Therefore, only offshore sites are able to provide legal New York online poker.
Yes, you can play online poker legally in NY. All of the statutes that pertain to playing poker within the Empire State deal with the operators of the games, not individual players. This is the case for both offline and online poker. Therefore, there's no chance of you getting into trouble with the law if you elect to fire up a few tables at your favorite virtual cardroom.
It's legal for PokerStars to offer its services throughout the State of New York. However, it does not currently accept players from NY or any other state except those where it is explicitly authorized to do so, like New Jersey.
This is a result of the settlement the company entered into in the wake of Black Friday when it agreed to abandon the unregulated U.S. market. You can cross over into New Jersey or Pennsylvania and play on PokerStars even if you reside in New York, but these PokerStars sites are ring-fenced and nowhere near as distinguished and busy as the global 'Stars platform.
Effectively, yes. Ignition is a member of the PaiWangLuo Network, which is based in Hong Kong and follows the laws in force in that jurisdiction. The company used to accept customers from New York, but it now does not.
Global Poker has an unusual business model that it says keeps it from breaking federal and state anti-gambling statutes. However, we believe that these claims aren't exactly ironclad. A detailed discussion of this aspect of Global's operations is beyond the scope of this FAQ, but you can peruse our poker review of Global for additional information on this subject.
We recommend that our readers conduct their internet gaming cashier functions using digital crypto-currency. Bitcoin Cash, Ethereum, Litecoin, and other coins have their uses, but the crypto with the widest acceptance at online poker rooms is the original one: Bitcoin. It permits you to get your cash quickly and relatively anonymously. Fees are generally low, and BTC transactions tend to be a lot speedier than old-school payment processors.
Nevertheless, if you do wish to use traditional methods of moving your money around, you can employ credit cards, money transfer services, checks, and other standard monetary tools.
Yes. Mobile compatibility has been a priority for internet poker firms for several years now, and so apps have appeared that work with iOS and Android machines. Even at sites that don't offer dedicated downloadable mobile apps, there are often web browser poker clients that work on a broad range of hardware, including modern smart devices.
Additional Resources
To find out more about poker and other types of gambling, it may be instructive to look at the following links:
We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!